Method of generating fluorine gas using corusacative reaction

ABSTRACT

A fluorine gas generating material composition comprises a fluorine bearing material, the fluorine bearing material releasing fluorine gas at a first temperature, and a coruscative material, a reaction temperature of the coruscative material equal to or greater than the first temperature. In some embodiments, the fluorine bearing material is a nickel-based alloy and the coruscative material includes an element from Group IVB, VB or VIB of the periodic table or a transition metal and a carbon-based material. The fluorine gas generating material composition can be incorporated into a product such as a munition, a flare, a shape charge or an impulse device. The disclosed fluorine gas generating material composition can be used to produce work in applications and methods that include point delivery of fluorine gas, explosives related applications, aerospace applications, and applications in the fields of mining and drilling.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to storing and releasingfluorine gas. More specifically, the present disclosure relates toreleasing fluorine from a fluorine bearing material using a coruscativereaction and delivering the fluorine gas to a delivery point and/orapplying the released fluorine gas to accomplish a desired task.

STATE OF THE ART

In the discussion of the state of the art that follows, reference ismade to certain structures and/or methods. However, the followingreferences should not be construed as an admission that these structuresand/or methods constitute prior art. Applicant expressly reserves theright to demonstrate that such structures and/or methods do not qualifyas prior art against the present invention.

Fluorine gas and its derivatives are currently used in severalapplications. For example, mining and drilling operations, such as oiland natural gas exploration and recovery, use HF gases and acids pumpedinto the mine/well to reduce the size of blockages and remove blockagesimpeding both continued drilling and continued recovery of product. Inanother example, to achieve the desired thrust, kinetic energy weaponshave multistage motors that add complexity, length and mass to theweapon. In a further example, fluorine gas transported in a highpressure or a cooled and/or liquefied state can react dangerously ifmishandled and is costly to transport, requiring special handlingprocedures and precautions. Other examples can be found in the aerospacefield and the chemical, biological and petroleum fields where fluorinegas and its derivatives are or can be utilized.

Some coruscative materials, mining and drilling equipment andprocedures, and pyrotechnics relevant to this disclosure are disclosedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,135,205; 3,654,867; 3,675,575; 3,707,195; 5,253,584;5,454,363; and 6,703,578. The disclosure of each of these patents isherein incorporated by reference. Additional relevant disclosure iscontained in WO 90/10611; WO 90/10724; WO 94/24074; and DE 41 36 272.

SUMMARY

An exemplary embodiment of a fluorine gas generating materialcomposition comprises a fluorine bearing material, the fluorine bearingmaterial releasing fluorine gas at a first temperature, and acoruscative material, a reaction temperature of the coruscative materialequal to or greater than the first temperature.

Another exemplary embodiment of a fluorine gas generating materialcomposition comprises a fluorine bearing material, the fluorine bearingmaterial including a nickel-based alloy that stores fluorine at roomtemperature and releases fluorine gas at a first temperature at leastabout 350° C., a coruscative material including an element from GroupIVB, VB or VIB of the periodic table and a carbon-based material, areaction temperature of the coruscative material equal to or greaterthan the first temperature, and a separator, wherein the coruscativematerial, the fluorine bearing material and the separator are arrangedas a multilayer having a first layer of the fluorine bearing material, asecond layer of the coruscative material, and the separator on at leastone side of the coruscative layer.

An exemplary embodiment of a product for producing fluorine gascomprises a fluorine bearing material, the fluorine bearing materialreleasing fluorine gas at a first temperature, a coruscative material, areaction temperature of the coruscative material equal to or greaterthan the first temperature, and a container containing the fluorinebearing material and the coruscative material, the container having anopening to vent released fluorine gas, wherein the coruscative materialis positioned within the container at least partially adjacent to thefluorine bearing material.

An exemplary embodiment of a method of delivering a fluorine gas to adelivery point comprises storing fluorine gas in a product for producingfluorine gas and transporting the product for producing fluorine gasfrom a storing location to the delivery point. The product includes afluorine bearing material releasing the stored fluorine gas at a firsttemperature, a coruscative material having a reaction temperature of thecoruscative material equal to or greater than the first temperature anda container containing the fluorine bearing material and the coruscativematerial, the container having an opening to vent released fluorine gas,wherein the coruscative material is positioned within the container atleast partially adjacent to the fluorine bearing material.

An exemplary embodiment of a method of clearing debris from a downholecomprises placing a charge in a region of the downhole, the chargeincluding a fluorine gas generating material composition having afluorine bearing material and a coruscative material, releasing fluorinegas by initiating a reaction of the coruscative material to heat thefluorine bearing material, and clearing the debris by expansion or flowof the released fluorine.

An exemplary embodiment of a method of providing impulse to an objectcomprises incorporating a fluorine gas generating material compositioninto the object, the fluorine gas generating material compositionincluding a fluorine bearing material releasing fluorine gas at a firsttemperature, and a coruscative material having a reaction temperatureequal to or greater than the first temperature; and impulsing the objectby initiating a reaction of the coruscative material of the fluorine gasgenerating material composition to release fluorine gas.

An exemplary embodiment of a method of perforating armor comprisesincorporating a fluorine gas generating material composition into akinetic energy penetrator, the fluorine gas generating materialcomposition, including a fluorine bearing material, the fluorine bearingmaterial releasing fluorine gas at a first temperature and a coruscativematerial, a reaction temperature of the coruscative material equal to orgreater than the first temperature, initiating a reaction of thecoruscative material of the fluorine gas generating material compositionto release fluorine gas to a propellant fuel, and reacting the fluorinegas and the propellant fuel to increase a velocity of the kinetic energypenetrator toward the armor.

A method to perforate or erode armor, the method comprises directing apenetrator toward the armor, the penetrator comprising a fluorine gasgenerating material composition including a fluorine bearing materialreleasing fluorine gas at a first temperature and a coruscative materialhaving a reaction temperature equal to or greater than the firsttemperature, and at least one vent from a volume containing the fluorinegas generating material composition to vent released fluorine gas toatmosphere, initiating a reaction of the coruscative material of thefluorine gas generating material composition to release fluorine gas,and directing the released fluorine gas toward the armor to perforate orerode the armor

An exemplary embodiment of a method to perforate an object comprisespositioning a product for producing fluorine gas in a vicinity of theobject, detonating a high explosive material to fracture the containerinto a plurality of particles, initiating a reaction of the coruscativematerial to generate heat and a solid reaction product, releasing storedfluorine gas from the fluorine bearing material, and expanding orflowing the released fluorine gas to drive the plurality of particlestoward the object. The product includes a fluorine bearing material, thefluorine bearing material releasing the stored fluorine gas at a firsttemperature, a coruscative material, a reaction temperature of thecoruscative material equal to or greater than the first temperature, anda container containing the fluorine bearing material and the coruscativematerial, wherein the coruscative material is positioned within thecontainer at least partially adjacent to the fluorine bearing material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The following detailed description of preferred embodiments can be readin connection with the accompanying drawings in which like numeralsdesignate like elements and in which:

FIGS. 1A to 1C schematically illustrate several exemplary embodiments ofa fluorine gas generating material composition.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary fluorine gasgenerating material composition with a multilayer including acoruscative material layer, a fluorine bearing material layer and aseparator arranged in a coil.

FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary fluorine gas generating materialcomposition with a layer of coruscative material and embedded particlesof a fluorine bearing material.

FIG. 3B fluorine gas generating material composition illustrates anexemplary fluorine gas generating material composition in the form ofparticles, each particle comprising coruscative material and fluorinebearing material.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary product for producingfluorine gas.

FIG. 5 shows a simplified view of a charge including a fluorine gasgenerating material composition having a fluorine bearing material and acoruscative material placed within a downhole of a well.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of an object that incorporates amethod of providing impulse with fluorine gas released from a fluorinegas generating material composition directed to a combustion regionwhere it combines with a fuel, the reaction products then provide animpulse to the object.

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary embodiment of a penetrator that incorporates afluorine gas generating material composition and vents the fluorine gasto perforate, erode or abrade armor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Coruscative materials include metal and carbon-based mixtures and/oralloys of metal and carbon-based materials that undergo a non-outgassingreaction at elevated temperatures of at least about 2500° C. (±10%),preferably at least about 3000° C. (±10%), and more preferably about4000° C. (±10%). Generally, the reaction is non-outgassing and produceseither a solid or a liquid reaction product.

The actual rate of reaction, the elevated temperature produced by thereaction, and the energy released varies depending on the metal andcarbon-based materials in the composition. The rate of reaction isprimarily a function of the size and packing density of the coruscativematerials, e.g., the metal and the carbon-based material, andsecondarily a function of the stoichiometry of the reagents selected asthe coruscative material. For example, smaller particles can be packedmore closely together and at a higher density. Thus, when the reactionstarts, the smaller particles have a faster rate of transfer betweenadjacent particles of the initiating conditions for the coruscativereaction, whether the initiating condition is temperature, pressure oranother parameter, than do larger particles with less packing density,e.g., more void space between particles or reagents. In one example,sputtered or co-sputtered coruscative material demonstrated reactionrates at least 100×. The temperature of the reaction is a function ofthe stoichiometry of the reagents selected as the coruscative material.The energy density is also a function of the stoichiometry of thereagents selected as the coruscative material. In one example, acoruscative composition of a mixture of titanium (Ti) powder and carbon(C) powder combine to form TiC and release 6.6 kilo-cal per cc ofreactants (e.g., energy density of 6.6 kilo-cal per cc). For comparison,TNT has an energy density of about 1.3 kilo-cal per cc).

Table 1 lists coruscative materials and parameters associated withcoruscative materials. Materials that undergo a pyrothechnic and/or athermitic reaction are also included. In some of the embodimentsdisclosed herein, materials that undergo a pyrothechnic and/or athermitic reaction may be substituted for the coruscative materials ormay be used in combination with the coruscative material. TABLE 1Composition Reaction Reagents Type Reaction Fabrication Method CommentsFe, Al C Fe₃O₂ + Al Coated Al cone ≈3.6-4.0 Fe + Fe₃O₂ + Al Cavitypacked with kcal/cc, iron and/or ferritic liquid oxide plus Al productsTi, C C Ti + C Cu cone vapor ≈6.6 kcal/cc, deposited with solidalternating layers of products Ti and C Compacted Ti and C slug incavity Al, K C Al + KClO₃ Al cone coated with Al + KClO₄ KClO₃ or KClO₄Compacted Al and KClO₃ or KClO₄ slug in cavity Ca, Si C CaSO₄ + SiO₂Glass cone coated with CaSO₄ Compacted CaSO₄ and SiO₂ slug in cavity Al,O C Ti, B, C C Ti + 0.305 B₄C = 061 TiB₂ + 0.39 TiC_(0.78) Al, Na₂O₂ C2Al + 3 Na₂O₂ PbO, Al C 3PbO₂ + 4 Al Zr, B, C C Zr + BC Hf, B, C C Hf +BC V, B, C C V + BC Al, Na P Al + NaClO₃ Al cone with slug NaClO₃ andAl + NaClO₃ insert NaClO₃ are hygroscopic Al P Al powder or Cu linerpacked with Optional slug insert metal powder or addition of with sluginsert oxidizer Ti P Ti powder or Cu liner packed with Optional sluginsert metal powder or addition of with slug insert oxidizer Zn P Znpowder or Cu liner packed with Optional slug insert metal powder oraddition of with slug insert oxidizer Fe P Fe₂O₃ powder Cu liner packedwith Optional or slug insert metal powder or addition of with sluginsert oxidizer Cu P Cu filling + Cu liner packed with copper benzoatemetal powder or with slug insert Metal Foil T Bond reactive foil to coneof shape charge or into cavity PERFORM ™ Available charge from BakerAtlasReaction Type Key: C = Coruscative; P = Pyrotechnic; T = Thermitic

An exemplary embodiment of a fluorine gas generating materialcomposition comprises a fluorine bearing material, the fluorine bearingmaterial releasing fluorine gas at a first temperature, and acoruscative material, a reaction temperature of the coruscative materialequal to or greater than the first temperature.

In exemplary embodiments, the fluorine gas generating materialcomposition is a mixture of powders, or layers of powders or solidlayers, and/or are formed into shapes, such as plates, sheets, wires,ribbons, tapes, threads, cylinders and so forth by, e.g., press forming,and/or are multilayers. Segregated mixtures can also be used where thefluorine bearing material is in a first region and the coruscativematerial is in a second region.

In some embodiments, the rate of release of fluorine gas from thefluorine bearing material can be controlled by controlling, e.g.,increasing or decreasing, the rate of thermal transfer of heat from thecoruscative material to the fluorine bearing material. Examples oftechniques and structures that can control the rate of thermal transferincludes varying the packing density of materials forming thecoruscative material, varying the packing density of the coruscativematerial with the fluorine bearing material, using separators toseparate coruscative material from fluorine bearing material, andvarying composition, size, thickness and position of coruscativematerial and fluorine bearing material within a segregated mixture. Onemethod to achieve maximum retardation of thermal transfer can beachieved by separating the coruscative material from the fluorinebearing material by a substrate. Suitable substrates include polymers,metals (e.g., foils), and metallized materials, such as metallizedcellulose-based materials and metallized polymers.

In preferred embodiments, the coruscative material is a mixture of ametal and a carbon-based material. Preferably, the mixture is a pressedbody, e.g., a green body, of powders or particles of individual reagentsof the coruscative material or particles of coruscative material.Optionally, the pressed body includes a binder and is sintered toimprove cohesiveness of the mixture. An example of reagents used in thecoruscative include a metal element from Group IVB, VB or VIB of theperiodic table, preferably titanium, or a transition metal, preferablyiron, and a carbon-based material, preferably carbon. Other reagents areincluded in Table 1.

In preferred embodiments, the fluorine bearing material is a ceramic ora metal that stores fluorine. In other words, the fluorine bearingmaterial in a solid form absorbs fluorine gas into the matrix of thesolid. The term solid refers to the solid state and can include aparticle, a powder, or a heat such as a bar, sheet or tube or caninclude an agglomerated or pressed and shaped particle, powder, or heat.At room temperature, the fluorine bearing material is stable in that theabsorbed fluorine gas is not desorbed or otherwise substantiallyreleased (±10% change in volume) and the fluorine gas in the fluorinebearing material is not reactive. At elevated temperatures, e.g.,temperatures of at least about 350° C. (±10%), preferably temperaturesof at least 400° C. (±10%), the fluorine bearing material releases thestored fluorine. This release may be at low velocity, e.g., less than orequal to about Mach 1, or may be at high velocity, e.g., from about Mach1 to about Mach 5, depending on the reaction rate and the elevatedtemperature. Fluorine bearing materials are also known as “sponges” forthe ability to take up and release fluorine. An example of a fluorinebearing material includes hexafluoronickelate(IV) potassium fluoride.Commercially available nickel-based alloys include HALO SAFE™ availablefrom Lambda Physik and solid state fluorine generator alloys availablefrom Showa Denko.

FIGS. 1A to 1C schematically illustrate several exemplary embodiments ofa fluorine gas generating material composition. The illustratedembodiments of the fluorine gas generating material composition 10, 20,30 include a fluorine bearing material 12, a coruscative material 14 anda separator 16. The coruscative material 14, the fluorine bearingmaterial 12 and the separator 16 are arranged as a multilayer 18 havinga first layer of the fluorine bearing material 12, a second layer of thecoruscative material 14, and the separator 16 on at least one side ofthe coruscative layer 14.

The fluorine bearing material 12 includes a nickel-based alloy thatstores fluorine at room temperature and releases fluorine gas at a firsttemperature at least about 350° C. An example of a suitable nickel-basedalloy is hexafluoronickelate(IV) potassium fluoride. Other fluorinebearing materials, including those described and disclosed herein, canalso be used in the fluorine gas generating material composition.

The coruscative material 14 includes an element from Group IVB, VB orVIB of the periodic table (or a transition metal) and a carbon-basedmaterial, a reaction temperature of the coruscative material equal to orgreater than the first temperature. An example of a suitable coruscativematerial includes titanium and carbon. Other coruscative materials,including those described and disclosed herein, can also be used in thefluorine gas generating material composition.

The separator 16 can be formed of, for example, polymers, metals (e.g.,foils), and metallized materials, such as metallized cellulose-basedmaterials and metallized polymers. The separator is positioned adjacentto and in contact with at least part of the fluorine bearing material 12and the coruscative material 14. In preferred embodiments, the separatoris positioned between the first layer and the second layer, e.g.,between the fluorine bearing material and the coruscative material, andcontributes to regulating the rate of fluorine release from the fluorinebearing material by adjusting the rate of thermal heat transfer to thefluorine bearing material.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary fluorine gasgenerating material composition with a multilayer 18 including a layerof coruscative material 14, a layer of fluorine bearing material 12 anda separator 16 arranged in a coil 40. Here, the separator 16 is depictedbetween the layer of coruscative material 14 and the layer of fluorinebearing material 12. However, any of the arrangements of multilayersshown and described with respect to FIGS. 1A to 1C can be used in thecoil 40. Further, the tightness of the coil, e.g., the number of layersin the radius, can be varied to attain different release rates offluorine since the tightness of the coil is related to the packingdensity. Also, the separator can be used to regulate the rate offluorine release from the fluorine bearing material by adjusting therate of thermal heat transfer to the fluorine bearing material.

FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary fluorine gas generating materialcomposition 50 with a layer of coruscative material 14 and embeddedparticles 52 of a fluorine bearing material. The embedded particles 52are shown in cross-section as embedded in a surface 54 of the layer ofcoruscative material 14, in which case, a plan view of a top surfacewould illustrate the particles 52 in the layer of coruscative material14, like sand on sandpaper. Typical sizes for the particle 52 are on theorder of less than one millimeter, preferably one to ten microns. Themore fine the particle size, the larger the total surface area, e.g.,the total surface area of all the particles 52 embedded in the layer ofcoruscative material 14 in a given area or volume of the composition 50,exposed to the layer of coruscative material 14 and the higher therelease rate of fluorine. Although shown as embedded in the surface,other exemplary embodiments can include particles 52 in the volume ofthe layer of coruscative material 14.

FIG. 3B fluorine gas generating material composition illustrates anexemplary fluorine gas generating material composition in the form of aparticle 60. Each particle comprises coruscative material 14 andfluorine bearing material 12. The particle 60 is on the order of lessthan one millimeter, preferably one to ten microns. However, a suitablesize can be selected to achieve a desired packing density of theparticles. The particle can be formed by forming a solid composition ofcoruscative material 14 and fluorine bearing material 12, e.g., bypressing and sintering or by alloying, and ball milling the solidcomposition to the desired particle size. Typically, the particle is tenparts fluorine bearing material to one part coruscative material, byvolume, or any other suitable ratio, e.g., from about 2 to 1 to about 20to 1. Exemplary embodiments of the particle 60 can be used in theembodiment shown and discussed with respect to FIG. 3A as well as otherembodiments shown and described herein.

An exemplary embodiment of a product for producing fluorine gascomprises a fluorine bearing material, the fluorine bearing materialreleasing fluorine gas at a first temperature, a coruscative material, areaction temperature of the coruscative material equal to or greaterthan the first temperature, and a container containing the fluorinebearing material and the coruscative material, the container having anopening to vent released fluorine gas, wherein the coruscative materialis positioned within the container at least partially adjacent to thefluorine bearing material.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary product for producingfluorine gas. In the simplified schematic shown, the product 70 includesa fluorine bearing material 72, a coruscative material 74, and acontainer 76. The container 76 contains the fluorine bearing material 72and the coruscative material 74 and has an opening 78 to vent releasedfluorine gas from the fluorine bearing material 72 when the fluorinebearing material 72 is at or above a first temperature. The coruscativematerial 74 is positioned within the container 76 at least partiallyadjacent to the fluorine bearing material 72. The position of thecoruscative material 74 with respect to the fluorine bearing material 72is such that the heat generated by a reaction of the coruscativematerial 74 is sufficient to raise a temperature of the fluorine bearingmaterial 72 to or above the first temperature e.g., that temperature atwhich the fluorine bearing material 72 releases the absorbed fluorinegas. For some nickel-based alloys, this first temperature is at least350° C. An optional igniter 80 is also illustrated with an initiatingdevice 82, such as a fuse. Suitable igniters include electrical ignitionsources, impact ignition sources and other munition igniters.

Multiple openings may be present in the container. Each opening can ventreleased fluorine gas that can be used to, for example, impulse thecontainer or an object including the container, erode a material placedin contact with the venting gas, and so forth. Openings that are notused for venting the released fluorine gas can optionally be capped, byfor example, a threaded cap 84.

In some exemplary embodiments, the fluorine gas generating materialcomposition can be incorporated into a product such as a munition, aflare, a shape charge or an impulse device, e.g., a device that releasesmatter (gas, solid, or liquid) to impart momentum and change directionof an object such as a missile or a satellite.

The disclosed fluorine gas generating material composition and productfor producing fluorine gas can be used to produce work. Severalapplications and methods are contemplated within the present disclosure.These include point delivery of fluorine gas, explosives relatedapplications, aerospace applications, and applications in the fields ofmining and drilling.

An exemplary embodiment of a method of delivering a fluorine gas to adelivery point comprises storing fluorine gas in a product for producingfluorine gas and transporting the product for producing fluorine gasfrom a storing location to the delivery point. The product includes afluorine bearing material releasing the stored fluorine gas at a firsttemperature, a coruscative material having a reaction temperature of thecoruscative material equal to or greater than the first temperature anda container containing the fluorine bearing material and the coruscativematerial, the container having an opening to vent released fluorine gas,wherein the coruscative material is positioned within the container atleast partially adjacent to the fluorine bearing material.

An exemplary embodiment of a method of clearing debris from a downholecomprises placing a charge in a region of the downhole, the chargeincluding a fluorine gas generating material composition having afluorine bearing material and a coruscative material, releasing fluorinegas by initiating a reaction of the coruscative material to heat thefluorine bearing material, and clearing the debris by expansion or flowof the released fluorine.

One exemplary embodiment of such a method is shown in FIG. 5. A charge100 including a fluorine gas generating material composition having afluorine bearing material and a coruscative material is placed within adownhole 102 of a well. The charge 100 may be associated with anotherdownhole device 104, such as a drilling apparatus or a pumpingapparatus, or the charge 100 may be associated with a dedicated clearingapparatus, e.g., on its own piping and control system. At a given depthd in the downhole 102, the charge 100 is initiated to release fluorinegas. While some effect of perforating the walls 106 of the downhole 102may be achieved by initiating a reaction of the coruscative material togenerate heat and a solid reaction product, the major effect ofperforating the walls 106 of the downhole 102 is a result of thefluorine gas 108 released at a high velocity in a given direction. Asshown in FIG. 5, the direction of release 110 can be into the soil androck material of the downhole 102. Optionally, the downhole debris 112is also reduced in size by the charge 100 to a size suitable forbreaking the soil and rock material into debris size by entraining thedebris 112 in the flowing fluorine gas. The debris then impacts thesolid material of the downhole wall and further perforates the walland/or reduces the size of the debris 112 further. Also, the smallerdebris size facilitates removal of the debris 112 from the downhole 102by the venting of the released fluorine, which ultimately is vented fromthe downhole 102 either ambiently or by a venting hole or pipe. Theventing path may be included in the downhole device, such as a drillingapparatus or a pumping apparatus, or in the dedicated clearingapparatus.

In another exemplary embodiment, a method to perforate an object isprovided. This exemplary method comprises positioning a product forproducing fluorine gas in a vicinity of the object, detonating a highexplosive material to fracture the container into a plurality ofparticles, initiating a reaction of the coruscative material to generateheat and a solid reaction product, releasing stored fluorine from thefluorine bearing material, and expanding the released fluorine to drivethe plurality of particles toward the object. The product includes afluorine bearing material, the fluorine bearing material releasing thestored fluorine gas at a first temperature, a coruscative material, areaction temperature of the coruscative material equal to or greaterthan the first temperature, and a container containing the fluorinebearing material and the coruscative material, wherein the coruscativematerial is positioned within the container at least partially adjacentto the fluorine bearing material.

An exemplary embodiment of a method of providing impulse to an objectcomprises incorporating a fluorine gas generating material compositioninto the object, the fluorine gas generating material compositionincluding a fluorine bearing material releasing fluorine gas at a firsttemperature, and a coruscative material having a reaction temperatureequal to or greater than the first temperature, and impulsing the objectby initiating a reaction of the coruscative material of the fluorine gasgenerating material composition to release fluorine gas to a propellantfuel. For example, the released fluorine can be directed to a combustionchamber of a rocket motor where it combines with a fuel, e.g., a lightelement fuel such as a boronated propellant, to produce an impulse. Inanother example, specific impulse can be provided to a kinetic energypenetrator to increase, or “boost” a velocity of the kinetic energypenetrator either before or after contact with a target.

One exemplary embodiment of a kinetic energy penetrator thatincorporates the method of providing impulse is shown in FIG. 6. In theFIG. 6 exemplary embodiment, a longitudinal cross-sectional view of akinetic energy penetrator 150 is shown. An example of a kinetic energypenetrator is a BLU-109 warhead or other munition such as BLU-109/B,BLU-113, BLU-116, JASSM-1000, J-1000, and the JAST-1000. The warheadcasing 152 contains an unspecified main payload operating after targetpenetration within a payload area 154. A fluorine gas generatingmaterial composition 156 is incorporated into the kinetic energypenetrator 150, for example at an aft end 158. The fluorine gasgenerating material composition 156 can be substantially similar to theproduct for producing fluorine gas shown and described herein withrespect to FIG. 4. In the kinetic energy penetrator 150 of FIG. 8, thereaction of the coruscative material 160 is initiated by an igniter 162,which can optionally be incorporated into the fusing of the kineticenergy penetrator 150 to initiate the coruscative reaction upon thefusing event, e.g., nose cone contact, deceleration, pressure, time andso forth, and cause the fluorine to be released from the fluorinebearing material 164. The released fluorine gas is vented throughopening 166 in a pressure bulkhead 168, e.g., a forward cap of a motorcasing, and into a combustion region 170. Although illustrated as in anaft end 158 directly abutting the pressure bulkhead 168, the fluorinegas generating material composition 156 can be at any suitable locationwithin the penetrator 150 and the released fluorine gas can be directedtoward the combustion region by suitable conduits. In the combustionregion 170, the released fluorine gas reacts with a fuel 172, such as asolid rocket propellant or other fuel such as a light element fuel,e.g., a boronated propellant. The products of this reaction are ventedaftward through opening 174 and provide an impulse to the kinetic energypenetrator 150. The opening 174 can be a single opening or a pluralityof openings. Further, the opening 174 can be a valved opening that canbe controlled to steer the kinetic energy penetrator 150, similar to ajet reaction control system. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,801for disclosure concerning a jet reaction control system.

An exemplary embodiment of a method of perforating armor comprisesincorporating a fluorine gas generating material composition into apenetrator, the fluorine gas generating material composition, includinga fluorine bearing material, the fluorine bearing material releasingfluorine gas at a first temperature and a coruscative material, areaction temperature of the coruscative material equal to or greaterthan the first temperature, directing the penetrator toward the armor,initiating a reaction of the coruscative material of the fluorine gasgenerating material composition to release fluorine gas, and directingthe released fluorine gas toward the armor to perforate or erode thearmor. Here, the fluorine gas is vented from openings near a nose cap ofthe penetrator such that the fluorine gas impacts the armor, such asceramic or reactive armor. The velocity of the fluorine gas and/or areaction with the fluorine gas causes the armor to be perforated and/oreroded and/or abraded.

One exemplary embodiment of a penetrator that incorporates the method ofperforating armor is shown in FIG. 7. In the FIG. 7 exemplaryembodiment, a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a penetrator 180 isshown. An example of a is a BLU-109 warhead or other munition such asBLU-109/B, BLU-113, BLU-116, JASSM-1000, J-1000, and the JAST-1000. Thewarhead casing 182 contains an unspecified main payload operating aftertarget penetration within a payload area 184. A fluorine gas generatingmaterial composition 186 is incorporated into the penetrator 180, forexample, at a forward end 188. The fluorine gas generating materialcomposition 186 may or may not be conformal to an inner surface of thewarhead casing 182. The fluorine gas generating material composition 186can be substantially similar to the product for producing fluorine gasshown and described herein with respect to FIG. 4. In the penetrator 180of FIG. 7, the reaction of the coruscative material 190 is initiated byan igniter 192, which can optionally be incorporated into the fusing ofthe kinetic energy penetrator 180 to initiate the coruscative reactionupon the fusing event, e.g., nose cone contact, deceleration, pressure,time and so forth, and cause the fluorine to be released from thefluorine bearing material 194. The released fluorine gas is ventedthrough opening 196 in the nose cap region 138 of the penetrator 180.For example, the opening 196 can be set back from a distal end 198 ofthe nose cap 200 to vent fluorine gas to a contacted object, e.g., armorof a vehicle. Here, the opening 196 is shown as a two openings inwarhead casing 182. However, any type opening or plurality of openingscan be used, including valved openings and openings incorporated intothe nose cap. The vented fluorine gas contributes to perforate and/orerode and/or abrade the material in the contacted object by eitherreaction of the vented fluorine gas with the material of the contactedobject and/or by erosion and/or abrasion of the material of thecontacted object by the high velocity vented fluorine gas. Further,although illustrated as in a forward end 188, the fluorine gasgenerating material composition 186 can be at any suitable locationwithin the penetrator 180 and the released fluorine gas can be directedtoward the opening 196 by suitable conduits.

Although the present invention has been described in connection withpreferred embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilledin the art that additions, deletions, modifications, and substitutionsnot specifically described may be made without department from thespirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A fluorine gas generating material composition, comprising: afluorine bearing material, the fluorine bearing material releasingfluorine gas at a first temperature; and a coruscative material, areaction temperature of the coruscative material equal to or greaterthan the first temperature.
 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein thecoruscative material is a mixture of a metal and a carbon-basedmaterial.
 3. The composition of claim 2, wherein the metal is an elementfrom Group IVB, VB or VIB of the periodic table.
 4. The composition ofclaim 3, wherein the metal is Ti.
 5. The composition of claim 2, whereinthe metal is a transition metal.
 6. The composition of claim 5, whereinthe metal is Fe.
 7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the fluorinebearing material is a ceramic or a metal that stores fluorine.
 8. Thecomposition of claim 7, wherein the metal is a nickel-based alloy. 9.The composition of claim 8, wherein the nickel-based alloy ishexafluoronickelate(IV) potassium fluoride.
 10. The composition of claim1, wherein the first temperature is at least about 350° C.
 11. Thecomposition of claim 1, wherein the reaction temperature is at leastabout 2500° C.
 12. The composition of claim 1, wherein the coruscativematerial is non-outgassing.
 13. A product for producing fluorine gas,the product including the composition of claim
 1. 14. The product ofclaim 13, wherein the product is a munition, a shape charge or animpulse device.
 15. A fluorine gas generating material composition,comprising: a fluorine bearing material, the fluorine bearing materialincluding a nickel-based alloy that stores fluorine at room temperatureand releases fluorine gas at a first temperature at least about 350° C.;a coruscative material including an element from Group IVB, VB or VIB ofthe periodic table and a carbon-based material, a reaction temperatureof the coruscative material equal to or greater than the firsttemperature; and a separator, wherein the coruscative material, thefluorine bearing material and the separator are arranged as a multilayerhaving a first layer of the fluorine bearing material, a second layer ofthe coruscative material, and the separator on at least one side of thecoruscative layer.
 16. The composition of claim 15, wherein the one sideis between the first layer and the second layer.
 17. The composition ofclaim 15, wherein the multilayer is in a form of a wire, thread, ribbonor tape.
 18. The composition of claim 15, wherein the separator is apolymer, a metal foil, a metallized cellulose-based material or ametallized polymer.
 19. A product for producing fluorine gas,comprising: a fluorine bearing material, the fluorine bearing materialreleasing fluorine gas at a first temperature; a coruscative material, areaction temperature of the coruscative material equal to or greaterthan the first temperature; and a container containing the fluorinebearing material and the coruscative material, the container having anopening to vent released fluorine gas, wherein the coruscative materialis positioned within the container at least partially adjacent to thefluorine bearing material.
 20. The product of claim 19, comprising anigniter, wherein the igniter is positioned within the product toinitiate a reaction of the coruscative material.
 21. The product ofclaim 19, wherein the coruscative material is a mixture of a metal and acarbon-based material.
 22. The product of claim 21, wherein the metal isan element from Group IVB, VB or VIB of the periodic table.
 23. Theproduct of claim 22, wherein the metal is Ti.
 24. The product of claim21, wherein the metal is a transition metal.
 25. The product of claim24, wherein the metal is Fe.
 26. The product of claim 21, wherein thefluorine bearing material is a ceramic or a metal that stores fluorine.27. The product of claim 26, wherein the metal is a nickel-based alloy.28. The product of claim 27, wherein the nickel-based alloy ishexafluoronickelate(IV) potassium fluoride.
 29. The product of claim 19,wherein the first temperature is at least about 350° C.
 30. The productof claim 19, wherein the coruscative material is non-outgassing.
 31. Theproduct of claim 19, wherein the reaction temperature is at least about2500° C.
 32. The product of claim 19, wherein the product is a munition,a shape charge or an impulse device.
 33. A method of delivering afluorine gas to a delivery point, the method comprising: storingfluorine gas in a product for producing fluorine gas, the productincluding a fluorine bearing material releasing the stored fluorine gasat a first temperature, a coruscative material having a reactiontemperature of the coruscative material equal to or greater than thefirst temperature and a container containing the fluorine bearingmaterial and the coruscative material, the container having an openingto vent released fluorine gas, wherein the coruscative material ispositioned within the container at least partially adjacent to thefluorine bearing material; and transporting the product for producingfluorine gas from a storing location to the delivery point.
 34. Themethod of claim 33, comprising releasing the stored fluorine gas byinitiating a reaction of the coruscative material.
 35. The method ofclaim 33, wherein the product includes an igniter, wherein the igniteris positioned within the product to initiate a reaction of thecoruscative material.
 36. The method of claim 33, wherein thecoruscative material is a mixture of a metal and a carbon-basedmaterial.
 37. The method of claim 36, wherein the metal is an elementfrom Group IVB, VB or VIB of the periodic table.
 38. The method of claim37, wherein the metal is Ti.
 39. The method of claim 36, wherein themetal is a transition metal.
 40. The method of claim 39, wherein themetal is Fe.
 41. The method of claim 33, wherein the fluorine bearingmaterial is a ceramic or a metal that stores fluorine.
 42. The method ofclaim 41, wherein the metal is a nickel-based alloy.
 43. The method ofclaim 42, wherein the nickel-based alloy is hexafluoronickelate(IV)potassium fluoride.
 44. The method of claim 33, wherein the firsttemperature is at least about 350° C.
 45. The method of claim 33,wherein the reaction temperature is at least about 2500° C.
 46. A methodof clearing debris from a downhole, the method comprising: placing acharge in a region of the downhole, the charge including a fluorine gasgenerating material composition having a fluorine bearing material and acoruscative material; releasing fluorine gas by initiating a reaction ofthe coruscative material to heat the fluorine bearing material; andclearing the debris by expansion or flow of the released fluorine. 47.The method of claim 46, comprising reducing a size of the debris whilein the downhole by at least one of a high explosive detonation, thereaction of the coruscative material and the expansion or flow of thereleased fluorine.
 48. The method of claim 46, wherein the fluorinebearing material includes a nickel-based alloy that stores fluorine atroom temperature and releases fluorine gas at a first temperature atleast about 350° C., and the coruscative material includes an elementfrom Group IVB, VB or VIB of the periodic table and a carbon-basedmaterial, a reaction temperature of the coruscative material equal to orgreater than the first temperature.
 49. The method of claim 48, whereinthe fluorine bearing material includes a separator, wherein thecoruscative material, the fluorine bearing material and the separatorare arranged as a multilayer having a first layer of the fluorinebearing material, a second layer of the coruscative material, and theseparator on at least one side of the coruscative layer.
 50. The methodof claim 49, wherein the separator is a polymer, a metal foil, ametallized cellulose-based material or a metallized polymer.
 51. Themethod of claim 48, wherein the coruscative material is a mixture oftitanium and a carbon-based material.
 52. A method of providing impulseto an object, the method comprising: incorporating a fluorine gasgenerating material composition into the object, the fluorine gasgenerating material composition including a fluorine bearing materialreleasing fluorine gas at a first temperature, and a coruscativematerial having a reaction temperature equal to or greater than thefirst temperature; and impulsing the object by initiating a reaction ofthe coruscative material of the fluorine gas generating materialcomposition to release fluorine gas.
 53. The method of claim 52, whereinthe fluorine bearing material includes a nickel-based alloy that storesfluorine at room temperature and releases fluorine gas at a firsttemperature at least about 350° C., and the coruscative materialincludes an element from Group IVB, VB or VIB of the periodic table anda carbon-based material, a reaction temperature of the coruscativematerial equal to or greater than the first temperature.
 54. The methodof claim 53, wherein the fluorine bearing material includes a separator,wherein the coruscative material, the fluorine bearing material and theseparator are arranged as a multilayer having a first layer of thefluorine bearing material, a second layer of the coruscative material,and the separator on at least one side of the coruscative layer.
 55. Themethod of claim 54, wherein the separator is a polymer, a metal foil, ametallized cellulose-based material or a metallized polymer.
 56. Themethod of claim 53, wherein the coruscative material is a mixture oftitanium and a carbon-based material.
 57. The method of claim 52,wherein the object is a munition or an aerospace vehicle.
 58. A methodof perforating armor, the method comprising: incorporating a fluorinegas generating material composition into a kinetic energy penetrator,the fluorine gas generating material composition, including a fluorinebearing material, the fluorine bearing material releasing fluorine gasat a first temperature and a coruscative material, a reactiontemperature of the coruscative material equal to or greater than thefirst temperature; initiating a reaction of the coruscative material ofthe fluorine gas generating material composition to release fluorine gasto a propellant fuel; and reacting the fluorine gas and the propellantfuel to increase a velocity of the kinetic energy penetrator toward thearmor.
 59. The method of claim 58, wherein the armor is a portion of avehicle.
 60. The method of claim 58, wherein the fluorine bearingmaterial includes a nickel-based alloy that stores fluorine at roomtemperature and releases fluorine gas at a first temperature at leastabout 350° C., and the coruscative material includes an element fromGroup IVB, VB or VIB of the periodic table and a carbon-based material,a reaction temperature of the coruscative material equal to or greaterthan the first temperature.
 61. The method of claim 60, wherein thefluorine bearing material includes a separator, wherein the coruscativematerial, the fluorine bearing material and the separator are arrangedas a multilayer having a first layer of the fluorine bearing material, asecond layer of the coruscative material, and the separator on at leastone side of the coruscative layer.
 62. The method of claim 61, whereinthe separator is a polymer, a metals foils, a metallized cellulose-basedmaterial or a metallized polymer.
 63. The method of claim 60, whereinthe coruscative material is a mixture of titanium and a carbon-basedmaterial.
 64. A method to perforate or erode armor, the methodcomprising: directing a penetrator toward the armor, the penetratorcomprising a fluorine gas generating material composition including afluorine bearing material releasing fluorine gas at a first temperatureand a coruscative material having a reaction temperature equal to orgreater than the first temperature, and at least one vent from a volumecontaining the fluorine gas generating material composition to ventreleased fluorine gas to atmosphere. initiating a reaction of thecoruscative material of the fluorine gas generating material compositionto release fluorine gas; and directing the released fluorine gas towardthe armor to perforate or erode the armor.
 65. The method of claim 64,wherein the armor is a portion of a vehicle.
 66. The method of claim 64,wherein the fluorine bearing material includes a nickel-based alloy thatstores fluorine at room temperature and releases fluorine gas at a firsttemperature at least about 350° C., and the coruscative materialincludes an element from Group IVB, VB or VIB of the periodic table anda carbon-based material, a reaction temperature of the coruscativematerial equal to or greater than the first temperature.
 67. The methodof claim 66, wherein the fluorine bearing material includes a separator,wherein the coruscative material, the fluorine bearing material and theseparator are arranged as a multilayer having a first layer of thefluorine bearing material, a second layer of the coruscative material,and the separator on at least one side of the coruscative layer.
 68. Themethod of claim 67, wherein the separator is a polymer, a metals foils,a metallized cellulose-based material or a metallized polymer.
 69. Themethod of claim 66, wherein the coruscative material is a mixture oftitanium and a carbon-based material.
 70. A method to perforate anobject, comprising: positioning a product for producing fluorine gas ina vicinity of the object, the product including a fluorine bearingmaterial, the fluorine bearing material releasing the stored fluorinegas at a first temperature, a coruscative material, a reactiontemperature of the coruscative material equal to or greater than thefirst temperature, and a container containing the fluorine bearingmaterial and the coruscative material, wherein the coruscative materialis positioned within the container at least partially adjacent to thefluorine bearing material; detonating a high explosive material tofracture the container into a plurality of particles; initiating areaction of the coruscative material to generate heat and a solidreaction product; releasing stored fluorine gas from the fluorinebearing material; and expanding the released fluorine gas to drive theplurality of particles toward the object.
 71. The method of claim 70,wherein the vicinity is a downhole of a well and the object includesdebris from walls of the well and expanding the released fluorine expelsat least portions of the debris.
 72. The method of claim 71, wherein thewell is an oil well or a natural gas well.
 73. The method of claim 70,wherein the container is engineered to fracture at predeterminedlocations to form the plurality of particles of a given particle sizecorresponding to a size of the debris.
 74. The method of claim 73,wherein the debris includes rock or soil.
 75. The method of claim 70,wherein the fluorine bearing material includes a nickel-based alloy thatstores fluorine at room temperature and releases fluorine gas at a firsttemperature at least about 350° C., and the coruscative materialincludes an element from Group IVB, VB or VIB of the periodic table anda carbon-based material, a reaction temperature of the coruscativematerial equal to or greater than the first temperature.
 76. The methodof claim 75, wherein the fluorine bearing material includes a separator,wherein the coruscative material, the fluorine bearing material and theseparator are arranged as a multilayer having a first layer of thefluorine bearing material, a second layer of the coruscative material,and the separator on at least one side of the coruscative layer.
 77. Themethod of claim 70, wherein the coruscative material is a mixture oftitanium and a carbon-based material.
 78. The method of claim 70,comprising reducing a size of the particles by a reaction with thereleased fluorine gas.